People · Podcast guest
James Rixon
Sustainable Futures with James Rixon: Retrofit Architecture
James Rixon, founder of Rixon Architecture in Cambridge, on retrofit and low-energy design. Hear his Architecture Social podcast conversation on sustainable retrofit.
- Current role
- Founder
- Practice
- Rixon Architecture
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
Conversation
The thinking behind the work.
Episode 0209 · Architecture Social
Sustainable Futures with James Rixon: Retrofit Architecture
Join us as we sit down with James Rixon from Rixon Architecture. James will dive into the essence of sustainable design, the firm's commitment to the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge, and the innovative Cambridge Retrofit Hub.
Explore episode moments
Use the timestamps below to find each moment in the full episode.
- 05:00 · Getting on with retrofit before policy catches up · Audio only
- 10:00 · Thoughtful design without unnecessary cost · Audio only
- 15:00 · Training, knowledge gaps and upskilling · Audio only
- 20:00 · Retrofit networks and shared knowledge · Audio only
- 25:00 · AI experiments and design tools · Audio only
- 30:00 · Helping homeowners decarbonise confidently · Audio only
Selected work
Selected work.
Cambridge, United Kingdom
Clunch House
A fabric-first refurbishment in Cambridge that replaced cement render with breathable insulation and lime render.
Explore the project ↗Laxfield, Suffolk, United Kingdom
Contemporary barn house, Laxfield
Full planning approval for a contemporary barn-inspired three-bedroom house in the rear garden of a Grade II listed Suffolk farmhouse.
Explore the project ↗Cambridge, United Kingdom
Glass extension, Cambridge
A contemporary glazed extension on a tight city-centre Cambridge site, replacing a timber balcony to bring in light and connect to the garden.
Explore the project ↗Other public work
The Britania, Kegworth ↗
Conversion of a former Kegworth pub into two student HMO units with two further homes on the old car park, taken through planning and building control.
About
The story so far.
The person behind the work.
James Rixon is the founder and director of Rixon Architecture, a Cambridge practice specialising in retrofit and low-energy design. He set up the practice in 2016 and ran it as a digitally nomadic studio for a period, including a year travelling with his family, before settling in Cambridge (having previously been based in South London).
James focuses on making existing buildings fit for the future, working with homeowners and building owners on phased, low-carbon interventions that improve comfort and cut energy use over time. He has completed Certified Passive House Designer training, is involved in the Architects Climate Action Network (ACAN), and is a co-founder and director of the Cambridge Retrofit Hub, a community benefit society supporting place-based retrofit.
Rixon Architecture is a signatory of the RIBA 2030 Climate Challenge and takes a fabric-first approach to homes and workplaces. Its refurbishment of Clunch House in Cambridge replaced the cement render with breathable insulation and a lime render, and added new double-glazed timber windows.
Rixon Architecture is a separate practice from Rixon Architects in Cirencester.
Watch or listen to the full conversation: Sustainable Futures with James Rixon: Retrofit Architecture.
The practice
Rixon Architecture
Cambridge architecture practice specialising in retrofit and low-energy design, led by James Rixon, a Certified Passive House Designer.
Company profile · Cambridge, United Kingdom
Expertise
What I bring.
- Current role
- Founder
- Practice
- Rixon Architecture
- Location
- Cambridge, UK
- On the podcast
- 1 episode · 2024
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